Honda Car Forum

Hi, I have just purchased a used car (listed in subject title) and before
the purchase we speciffically demanded that the ABS light that was on during
the test drive be fixed or we would keep on looking, so they fixed it
........ Temporarily, after buying it and driving it off the lot, the ABS
light didn't come on for a few days, but eventually it came back on,

we took it back to the dealership because there was a symptom that always
led to the ABS light coming on,
as soon as I turn the ignition switch, their would be an annoying wine for
about 45 seconds, then I would get a "Bing" and the ABS light would switch
on.

They worked on it, told me that some fluid was low, but also there was a
valve that would cost them 400 dollars to replace, if the problem were to
persist, they would go ahead and fix it for us, but first they told us to
ride it out on the temporary "fluid level" fix.

Can someone tell me what problem or valve is involved in this situation, I
have searched on the net, and have had no luck in finding anything like this
that triggers and ABS failure, or check light to check light that comes on.

Thanks.

On Wed, 30 Jul 2003 23:14:02 -0700, "Preston Jr." <puresong@bellsouth.net>
wrote:

>Hi, I have just purchased a used car (listed in subject title) and before
>the purchase we speciffically demanded that the ABS light that was on during
>the test drive be fixed or we would keep on looking, so they fixed it
>....... Temporarily, after buying it and driving it off the lot, the ABS
>light didn't come on for a few days, but eventually it came back on,
>
>we took it back to the dealership because there was a symptom that always
>led to the ABS light coming on,
>as soon as I turn the ignition switch, their would be an annoying wine for
>about 45 seconds, then I would get a "Bing" and the ABS light would switch
>on.

That's the ABS pump trying to bring up the high pressure side of the ABS
system - eventually (time varies according to ABS generation and model - in
your system, I *think* 45secs) if it can't, it quits and throws a code.

>They worked on it, told me that some fluid was low, but also there was a
>valve that would cost them 400 dollars to replace, if the problem were to
>persist, they would go ahead and fix it for us, but first they told us to
>ride it out on the temporary "fluid level" fix.
>
>Can someone tell me what problem or valve is involved in this situation, I
>have searched on the net, and have had no luck in finding anything like this
>that triggers and ABS failure, or check light to check light that comes on.

If you do a search at <http://groups.google.com/advanced_group_search> on
this NG for ABS problems, you'll see there's been quite a bit of discussion
of it. There's a check valve in the valving at the outlet of the pump but
your symptom sounds more like a leaky seal internally in the modulator
unit. Sometimes you can clear the leak by exercising the system with nice
clean fluid in it but it depends on how well the system has been
maintained. Those systems require excellent quality fluid to work reliably
and dependably.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??